I was not sure at first that my cats (2 of them) would like this item.  My brother put it together for me and we set it up in the corner of the room.  At first they left it alone for a couple of days, but finally one of them came over and sniffed it and then scratched at the scratching post but that was all.  A couple of days later the cats were playing together and one of them jumped up on one of the ledges and finally sat there for a time.  They are still not on it 24/7 but at least they are using it more frequently.  I'm sure that in time I will not be able to get them off of it.